Quality Leadership Tips: Paying Attention To What Really Matters

Paying Attention to the Signs of Life Around Us

The sign said, "No swimming." But does that really mean what it says? Does it really apply to me?

Its important for the quality leader to be able to read the signs of life around him or her, but also to give heed to them as well. In the busyness of our day, what kinds of signs might we see at work?

For example, there are signs of character that might not be seen by the eye, but are surely posted in our mind:

* Are we being honest? Are our lives marked by integrity?

* Are we treating those with whom we work kindly and with respect? Do we operate under the "golden rule?"

* Are we putting in an honest day's work? Or our our minds far away as productive time slips away?

It is one thing to know what to do (read the sign). It is far different when we obey what it says.

A quality leader has the courage to read the sign.

A quality leader believes in the message of the sign.

A quality leader is passionate about the purpose of the sign.

A quality leader shows leadership when he or she encourages others to read and heed the message of the sign.

Paying attention to the signs of life and heeding each message is a mark of a quality leader. Getting others to follow you is called influence. It is an even greater achievement when you lead others down the right path, teaching them to read and observe the signs along the way.

The Secret to Getting Ahead

One of the marks of a good leader is to create momentum. When many are paralyzed by indecision and the fear of making a decision, the Quality Leader has learned one of Mark Twain's "secrets"

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” –Mark Twain.

Keep it simple and lead.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny

Are You Leaking Energy?

Leadership thought of the day: Concerning having a personal mission statement, is your purpose crystal clear, every day? "In the absence of a clear purpose, we become strangely loyal to performing trivia." from Live Your Calling by Brennfleck and Brenfleck (Pg. 172)

Having a personal mission statement keeps both you and your organization on track.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny

Have You Ever Felt Like Giving Up?

I am reading John Maxwell's book, Put Your Dream to the Test, where he says

Robert Peary attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded.

Oscar Hammerstein produced five shows on Broadway that were flops before staging Oklahoma.

Thomas Edison failed in his attempt to create a workable light bulb ten thousand times before creating one that finally worked.

To achieve your dream, you will have to develop the ability to keep going when others quit. You need to develop tenacity!" Pg. 168.

Leading with Quality in Mind,

Denny

Are You Creating More Buzz Than Fuzz?

Leadership quote of the day from John Maxwell in communicating vision to others:

"If leaders create a fuzzy picture, then people follow in an equally fuzzy way."

[Put Your Dream to the Test, page 39].

In your leadership style, are you creating more of a buzz or fuzz?

Leading with Quality in Mind,

Denny

The Desperate Prayers of a Leader

One of a leader's potential traps is to believe (and then act) like he or she can go it alone without having an inner core that is founded upon dependence upon God for every leadership decision, the great and small.

For many believers, the nature of prayer often becomes a last resort when we can accomplish nothing more in our own wisdom, wit, and works. It is a comforting thought that God knows this about us too, and still accepts and answers our desperate prayers. Having a works mentality drives us even further away from the comfort that awaits those who put their trust in the Lord. Grace, however, (God's solution to our need) no matter how desperate our situation, opens wide the door to His Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16). Chip Ingram reminds us of this great truth about “great prayers.”

“Not only are great prayers deeply personal, they are also birthed in brokenness. When we come to God with a sense of bankruptcy, knowing we’re in a desperate situation and have no resources to get ourselves out of it, God pays special attention. Brokenness will cause us to pour out our heart to God rather than trying to find the right words or the most persuasive arguments to present to him.” Pg. 103. Ingram, Chip. 2007. Good to great in God’s eyes: 10 practices great Christians have in common. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

Desperate times require desperate measures that call for desperate prayers. How desperate are you in your need for Him?

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny

Have Your Methods Become Monuments?

In his book, Rescuing Ambition, Dave Harvey says,

We're ambitious to start things but hate to end them. Every initiative can seem right, good, and important--we're sure God is behind it all. So we launch things as if great efforts in the name of God need no expiration dates. We assume that what's effective in one season is effective for all time. Methods become monuments. (Pg. 113)

It's something every quality leader needs to think upon as we lead.

Leading with Quality in mind,

Denny